Humana CHF program cuts costs, admissions

The Buffalo Grove, IL-based Cardiac Solutions congestive heart failure program reduced admissions by 57.5%, inpatient costs by 61.1%, hospital days by 58%, and emergency department visits by 48.9% in a two-year study of nearly 5,000 Humana patients. The program relies heavily on frequent nursing contact in person and by telephone with patients to make sure they comply with doctors' orders and know how to identify early warning signs. Nurse disease managers provide the sometimes missing link between established treatment guidelines and implementation on the patient level.